I am a feminist and believe in equal rights, says Alia Bhatt

07/12/2016

Alia Bhatt has been delivering solid performances ever since she made her Bollywood debut (with Student of the Year; 2012). But the actor admits that she is afraid of the day when she won’t be praised for one of her films. “That’s why I never get used to the praise. I appreciate it and then cut it off. Shah Rukh [Khan] also told me that ‘you should unlearn whatever you learn’,” she says.
The 23-year-old is receiving accolades for her new film with Shah Rukh, but she thinks every film is a “new journey”. “The idea is that I don’t crave for what I achieved in the last film. So, whatever happened with the last film, I am not expecting [that to happen] again. That’s what I consciously try [to do], and tell myself that’s how it should be. Our aim should be to go back to zero with each film,” she says.
Changing thoughts
Earlier this year, Alia was criticised after she reportedly said she wasn’t a feminist. “What I meant to say [with my earlier statement] was that I am not actively participating [in strengthening women empowerment], which people do actively. So, I am not campaigning for or participating, which I would like to do as well whenever I get the opportunity. However, I do believe in it,” says the actor.
So, would she call herself a feminist? “Yes, of course. A feminist is someone who believes in equal rights, and I, of course, believe in that, like many like-minded people. In a way, I should take that [statement] back, because even talking about it is like participating in it. So, I have actually changed that [the statement] around to say that I am a feminist and I do believe in equal rights. Whenever I’m asked about it, I will always speak about [feminism] in its true form, so that people can hear about it from time to time,” she says.
In a similar vein, Alia recently spoke about why Indian actresses do not talk about their relationships. Ask her if things are changing, and she says, “I don’t think things are changing as such, but yes, thoughts are changing for sure. People discussing this is in itself a sign that thoughts are changing.”
True equality
At the same time, the actor feels “people are very pro about women having equal rights”. “I genuinely believe that there will be real equality when this is not a question anymore. Whenever the question of equality disappears is when we will have attained true equality. So, I am waiting for that time. It’s a process and it will take time. We will get there, and I completely believe in that,” she says.
Be it Highway (2014), Udta Punjab or Kapoor & Sons, Alia (below) has been constantly making brilliant yet disparate choices as far as roles are concerned. “Maybe, I am choosing it like that (smiles). It’s all (roles) coming to me and I am choosing different ones. But it’s not because I want to prove a point but because I want to excite myself and do something different,” she says.
The ‘natural’ actor
The 23-year-old actor admits that she is just going with her “heart and gut.” “It’s not like I am thinking, ‘I have done that kind of a film, so now, I should do a certain kind of films.’ So, even if a role is repetitive, but I love it, I will do it. But usually, I like doing different things. Since I have done different stuff, maybe, I will do the same stuff too. But I will do it because I want to do it and not because people are expecting that from me. So, now, I may do a full-fledged, out-and-out Hindi film heroine kind of role because I want to do it and not because that could be the right move,” she says.
From the start, Alia has been called a ‘natural’ actor. “What I like the most is being able to live different lives. That’s what attracts me towards acting and movie world. When I watch a movie, I am like, ‘this is a new world that exists for these two hours. It’s a story that exists.’ That’s why it seems like it (that I am a natural),” she says.
New abode
I have not technically moved in yet. I was also waiting for my mom (Soni Razdan) to come back as she had gone for a shoot. We are still shifting my clothes and other stuff. Imagine, in between promotions, I was shifting boxes and packing and unpacking my clothes. It’s very stressful. My sister (Shaheen) is moving in with me. It has shaped up very well and I am happy with it. It has a happy vibe to it.

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